What do tyre markings mean? A helpful guide!
Have you wondered what the markings mean? Tyre Shop NG8 & Mobile Tyre Service has the answers! We also have quality tyres at great prices in our Nottingham and Mansfield shops.
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Tyre size
This is a string of numbers and a letter. The most common in the UK is 205/55R16. It tells you:
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Tyre width in millimetres. This is the first three numbers.
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Aspect ratio. The two digits immediately after the width. It tells you the height of the tyre’s sidewall, and is given as a percentage of the tyre width. In the example above, the tyre sidewall is 55% of the 205mm width (113mm)
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Almost all modern tyres are radial tyres. This means that the cord plies within the tyre are at a 90 degree angle from the direction of travel. This construction makes the tyre stronger, and the R in the example above shows that it is a radial tyre.
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Lastly you have the rim size, which tells you what size wheel the tyre will fit. This measurement is given in inches.
Date of manufacture
This is a 12 digit code, preceded by the letters DOT (Department of Transport) and with the last four numbers usually in a small box. The first 8 numbers are a way for the manufacturer to identify the tyre and where it was made. The last four are the week and year of manufacture. For example, 4823 shows the tyre was made in the 48th week of 2023.
Reinforced tyres
Some tyres are designed to be stronger, and these carry markings to show that. These are the markings and their meanings:
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XL - rated for extra load
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EXL - rated for extra load
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RF - reinforced
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REINF - reinforced
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RFD - reinforced
Run flat and more
Some tyres are designed with stronger sidewalls that allow them to be used even after a loss of pressure. In addition, some tyres are designed for use with specific vehicles, working closely with the manufacturers. These letters and symbols are used by all tyre manufacturers to show that the tyre has been specifically designed for use with specific vehicles.
Run flat
Brand markings
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